This study aimed to characterize and identify the non-volatile components in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stems and leaves of Rhododendron tomentosum by using sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with a self-built information database. By comparing with reference compounds, analyzing fragment ion information, searching relevant literature, and using a self-built information database, 118 compounds were identified from the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. tomentosum, including 35 flavonoid glycosides, 15 phenolic glycosides, 12 flavonoids, 7 phenolic acids, 7 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 tannins, 6 phospholipids, 5 coumarins, 5 monoterpene glycosides, 6 triterpenes, 3 fatty acids, and 11 other types of compounds. Among them, 102 compounds were reported in R. tomentosum for the first time, and 36 compounds were identified by comparing them with reference compounds. The chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum leaves and stems showed slight differences, with 84 common chemical components accounting for 71.2% of the total 118 compounds. This study systematically characterized and identified the non-volatile chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum for the first time. The findings provide a reference for active ingredient research, quality control, and product development of R. tomentosum.
Rhododendron/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry*

This study investigates the mechanism by which Xintong Granules improve myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI) through the regulation of gut microbiota and their metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs). Rats were randomly divided based on body weight into the sham operation group, model group, low-dose Xintong Granules group(1.43 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), medium-dose Xintong Granules group(2.86 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), high-dose Xintong Granules group(5.72 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and metoprolol group(10 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). After 14 days of pre-administration, the MIRI rat model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. The myocardial infarction area was assessed using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining method. Apoptosis in tissue cells was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL) assay. Pathological changes in myocardial cells and colonic tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme(CK-MB), and cardiac troponin T(cTnT) in rat serum were quantitatively measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kits. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase(CK), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in myocardial tissue, as well as the level of malondialdehyde(MDA), were determined using colorimetric assays. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and fecal SCFAs were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). The results show that Xintong Granules significantly reduced the myocardial infarction area, suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and decreased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), myocardial injury markers(CK-MB, cTnT, LDH, and CK), and oxidative stress marker MDA. Additionally, Xintong Granules significantly improved intestinal inflammation in MIRI rats, regulated gut microbiota composition and diversity, and increased the levels of SCFAs(acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, etc.). In summary, Xintong Granules effectively alleviate MIRI symptoms. This study preliminarily confirms that Xintong Granules exert their inhibitory effects on MIRI by regulating gut microbiota imbalance and increasing SCFA levels.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the molecular mechanism by which He's Yangchao Formula improves ovarian function in premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) mice through intestinal flora modulation. METHODS: Forty female ICR mice (aged 6-8 weeks) were intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg) to establish a POI model, while 10 untreated mice served as the blank control. Successfully modeled mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=10/group): low-dose He's Yangchao Formula (6 g crude herb/kg), high-dose He's Yangchao Formula (25 g crude herb/kg), positive control (estradiol), and model control (distilled water). Treatments were admin-istered daily by gavage for 6 weeks. Vaginal exfoliated cells were stained with Wright-Giemsa solution to monitor estrous cycles. Serum estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured by ELISA. Ovarian FSH receptor (FSHR) expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Glycolysis-related proteins pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) were analyzed by Western blotting and immuno-fluorescence. Fecal samples from blank control, model control, and high-dose groups underwent metagenomic sequencing to evaluate intestinal microbiota diversity and com-position. RESULTS: He's Yangchao Formula restored estrous cyclicity, increased serum estradiol (P<0.05), decreased serum FSH (P<0.05), and upregulated FSHR expression in granulosa cells (P<0.05). Metagenomic analysis revealed significant structural differences in intestinal flora among blank control, model control, and high-dose groups (P<0.01). The high-dose group showed reduced abundance of conditional pathogens (e.g., Alistipes, Prevotella, Odoribacter, Blautia, Rikenella) compared to the model control (P<0.05). Functional enrichment analysis indicated involvement of glycolysis-related pathways. Concordantly, PKM2 and GLUT4 expression was downregulated in the model control but upregulated in He's Yangchao Formula groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS He's Yangchao Formula ameliorates POI in mice by remodeling intestinal flora structure, enhancing glycolytic activity, improving ovarian sex hormone secretion, increasing granulosa cell FSHR expression, and restoring estrous cyclicity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of rutaecarpine (RUT) on monosodium urate crystal (MSU)-induced murine peritonitis in mice and further explored the underlying mechanism of RUT in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/MSU-induced gout model in vitro. METHODS: In MSU-induced mice, 36 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 mice each group, including the control group, model group, RUT low-, medium-, and high-doses groups, and prednisone acetate group. The mice in each group were orally administered the corresponding drugs or vehicle once a day for 7 consecutive days. The gout inflammation model was established by intraperitoneal injection of MSU to evaluate the anti-gout inflammatory effects of RUT. Then the proinflammatory cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the proportions of infiltrating neutrophils cytokines were detected by flow cytometry. In LPS/MSU-treated or untreated THP-1 macrophages, cell viability was observed by cell counting kit 8 and proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. The percentage of pyroptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. Respectively, the mRNA and protein levels were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 was observed by laser confocal imaging. Additionally, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking were applied to validate the binding ability of RUT components to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) targets. RESULTS: RUT reduced the levels of infiltrating neutrophils and monocytes and decreased the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 6 (IL-6, all P<0.01). In vitro, RUT reduced the production of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. In addition, RT-PCR revealed the inhibitory effects of RUT on the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, cyclooxygenase-2 and TNF-α (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Mechanistically, RUT markedly reduced protein expressions of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR), phospho-mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-MAPK), phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase, phospho-NF-κB, phospho-kinase α/β, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRPS), cleaved-cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 and cleaved-gasdermin D in macrophages (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Molecularly, SPR revealed that RUT bound to TNF-α with a calculated equilibrium dissociation constant of 31.7 µmol/L. Molecular docking further confirmed that RUT could interact directly with the TNF-α protein via hydrogen bonding, van der Waals interactions, and carbon-hydrogen bonding. CONCLUSION RUT alleviated MSU-induced peritonitis and inhibited the TNFR1-MAPK/NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway to attenuate gouty inflammation induced by LPS/MSU in THP-1 macrophages, suggesting that RUT could be a potential therapeutic candidate for gout.
Animals ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Male ; Indole Alkaloids/therapeutic use* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Inflammation/complications* ; Uric Acid ; Quinazolines/therapeutic use* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Humans ; Gout/chemically induced* ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; THP-1 Cells ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Quinazolinones

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism of cinnamic acid (CA) for improving doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury (DIC) in mice. METHODS: Network pharmacology analysis was used to obtain the key targets of CA and DIC. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into Sham, DOX, CA (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg)+DOX, and CA+Ferrostatin-1+DOX groups, and their myocardial function and pathology were examined by echocardiography and HE staining. Serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, MDA, IL-6, TNF‑α and myocardial ROS level were detected, and the expression levels of TLR4 and ferroptosis pathway proteins in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blotting. Cultured murine cardiomyocytes (HL-1 cells) with or without transfection with a small interfering RNA targeting TLR4 (si-TLR4) were treated with DOX or Erastin, and the cellular ROS content was measured by DCFH-DA staining; the expression level of GPX4 was detected using immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Network pharmacology analysis suggested that CA may improve DIC through TLR4 signaling. DOX treatment caused obvious myocardial injury in mice, which showed significantly increased serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, MDA, IL-6, TNF-α and myocardial ROS level with decreased myocardial levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins and increased levels of TLR4 and PTGS2 proteins. All these changes in the mouse models were significantly alleviated by treatment with CA, and the mice receiving CA or ferrostatin-1 treatment exhibited increased myocardial expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins and lowered expressions of TLR4 and PTGS2 proteins. In cultured HL-1 cells, treatment with DOX and Erastin both obviously increased intracellular ROS level and decreased cellular GPX4 expression level, and these changes were strongly attenuated by TLR4 interference. CONCLUSIONS CA, as a potent herbal monomer, can effectively alleviate DIC in mice by inhibiting TLR4-mediated ferroptosis.
Animals ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Male ; Doxorubicin/adverse effects* ; Cinnamates/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*

Objective : To investigate the effects of sinapine on lung tissue inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in asthmatic mice. Methods: Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into Control group, ovalbumin(OVA) group, Sinapine group, and Sinapine+OVA group. The asthmatic mice model were established by intraperitoneal injection of OVA combined with aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH)3] suspension and OVA nasal stimulation. One hour before OVA nasal stimulation, the mice in Sinapine+OVA group and Sinapine group were intraperitoneally injected with sinapine solution, and the mice in OVA group and Control group were treated with the same dose of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. 24 hours after the last OVA stimulation, the inflammation of lung tissue of mice were observed by HE staining; the mucus secretion were evaluated by PAS staining; the mRNA expression levels of Interleukin-4(IL-4), Interleukin-5(IL-5), Interleukin-13(IL-13), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), Mucin 5ac(Muc5ac), and the mRNA of the key genes of Notch pathway such as Notch receptor 1(Notch1), Notch receptor 2(Notch2), Notch receptor 3(Notch3), and hes family bHLH transcription factor 1(Hes1) in lung tissues were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR); the expression levels of Notch1, Notch2, Notch3 and Hes1 proteins were determined by Western blot. Results : Compared with Control group, the inflammation score and PAS score of lung tissues of mice in OVA group increased(P<0.001); the mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α, and Muc5ac of mice in OVA group were enhanced(P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch2, Notch3, and Hes1 of mice in OVA group significantly increased(P<0.001), while there was no significant difference in the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1. Compared with OVA group, the inflammation score and PAS score of lung tissues of mice in Sinapine+OVA group decreased(P<0.001); the mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α, and Muc5ac of mice in Sinapine+OVA group were reduced(P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch2, Notch3, and Hes1 of mice in Sinapine+OVA group were downregulated(P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1. Conclusion Sinapine can alleviate the lung tissue inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in asthmatic mice, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Notch2/Notch3-Hes1 signal pathway.

Eleven compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the 95% aqueous ethanol extract of the roots of Sophora tonkinensis by silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative RP-HPLC. Their structures were identified as 7-hydroxy-8-isopentenylchromone (1), furo[2,3-f]-1,3-benzodioxole-7-carboxylic acid (2), 6-[3-(2′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)acryloyl]-7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-8-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2H-benzopyran (3), flemichapparin B (4), tectorigenin (5), genistein (6), 6-hydroxy-1,3-benzodioxole-5-carboxylic acid (7), vanillic acid (8), protocatechuic acid (9), 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (10), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (11) through extensive spectroscopic data (IR, UV, HR-ESI-MS, and NMR spectra). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new compounds. In addition, compound 3 showed significant α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values of 5.595 and 0.320 μmol·L^-1, respectively.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

Objective:We aimed to develop a novel visualized model based on nomogram to predict postoperative overall survival.Methods:This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study, including participants with histologically confirmed gastric and colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery from 11 medical centers in China from August 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. Baseline characteristics, histopathological data and nutritional status, as assessed using Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) score and the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, were collected. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and Cox regression were used to identify variables to be included in the predictive model. Internal and external validations were performed.Results:There were 681 and 127 patients in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. A total of 188 deaths were observed over a median follow-up period of 59 (range: 58 to 60) months. Two independent predictors of NRS 2002 and Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage were identified and incorporated into the prediction nomogram model together with the factor of age. The model's concordance index for 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival was 0.696, 0.724, and 0.738 in the training cohort and 0.801, 0.812, and 0.793 in the validation cohort, respectively.Conclusions:In this study, a new nomogram prediction model based on NRS 2002 score was developed and validated for predicting the overall postoperative survival of patients with gastric colorectal cancer. This model has good differentiation, calibration and clinical practicability in predicting the long-term survival rate of patients with gastrointestinal cancer after radical surgery.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of obesity factor on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and the role of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) expression in mice.Methods:Twenty-four SPF healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 6-7 weeks, weighing 18-21 g, were divided into 2 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: common diet group (CD group) and high fat diet group (HFD group). CD group was fed a common diet and HFD group was fed a high-fat diet supplied with 60% fat for 12 weeks, and the body weight of mice was recorded every week. The mice in CD group were then divided into 2 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: CD+ solvent group (CD+ C group) and CD+ TRPA1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) group (CD+ A group). The mice in group HFD were divided into 2 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: HFD+ solvent group (HFD+ C group) and HFD+ AITC group (HFD+ A group). At 13th week, AITC 25 mg·kg -1·d -1 was intragastrically administered based on the original diet in CD+ A group and HFD+ A group, and the equal volume of solvent was given in CD+ C and HFD+ C groups. At 14th week, myocardial I/R injury was established by occlusion of the left coronary artery for 30 min followed by 120-min reperfusion. The body weight, epididymal fat, mesenteric fat and perirenal fat were recorded, and the levels of LDH, triglyceride and cholesterol in serum were determined. The percentage of myocardial infarct size was calculated. The expression of TRPA1, Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was calculated. Results:Compared with CD+ C group, the expression of TRPA1 in myocardial tissues was significantly up-regulated ( P<0.05), and no significant differences were found in the other parameters in CD+ A group ( P>0.05), and the concentrations of serum triglyceride and cholesterol, body weight, weight of epididymal fat, mesenteric fat, perirenal fat and percentage of myocardial infarct size were significantly increased, the expression of TRPA1 in myocardial tissues was down-regulated, and the concentration of LDH and ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were increased in HFD+ C group ( P<0.05). Compared with HFD+ C group, the concentrations of serum triglyceride and cholesterol, body weight, weight of epididymal fat, mesenteric fat, perirenal fat and percentage of myocardial infarct size were significantly decreased, the expression of TRPA1 in myocardial tissues was up-regulated, and the concentration of LDH and ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were decreased in HFD+ A group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Obesity can aggravate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice, and the down-regulated myocardial TRPA1 expression is involved in this process.